Ironing machine



'Jun 2, 1942. J. w. RACKLYEFT 2,284,767

IRONING MACHINE Filed Jan. 15, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 John m-mckgrert ATTORN J n 942 J. w. RACKLYEFT 2,234,767

momma MACHINE Filed Jan. 16, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 kn mRackq/yeft j m a June 2,1942. w; R CKLYEFT 2,284,767

IRONING MACHINE INVENTOR John. 74- RacZrZ refL 4 1410 ATTOR F1 45 15-1 49 7 BY 5: M fi Patented June 2, 1942v UNITED IRONING MACHINE John W. Racklyeft, Cleveland, Ohio, assignor to The Apex Electrical Manufacturing Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application January 16, 1937, Serial No. 120,959

' 15 Claims. (oi. 38-59) This invention relates to ironing machines and it constitutes a continuation-in-part of my copending applications Serial No. 621,658 which was filed July 9, 1932, and issued as Patent No.

2,071,264, on February 16, 1937, and Serial No.

111,695 which was filed November 19, 1936.

The present invention has for its objects the provision of an ironing machine having an inexpensive and compact operating mechanism;

the provision of an ironing machine having a power-operated roll with a disconnectible driving connection inside the roll and meansoutside the roll for controlling such connection; the provision of a power-operatedironing machine having a minimum number of clutches; and the provision of an ironer roll drive as described, in combination with an ironer of the type in which either the roll or the shoe is the shiftable member and in which the ironer roll drive is automatically connected to drive the roll when the roll and shoe are shifted to an operative pressing position and automatically disconnected when the roll and shoe are separated one from the other.

These and other objects of theinvention will become more apparent and better understood after consideration has been given to the following detailed description of the invention taken in connection with the drawings which show, merelyby way of illustration, structure adapted for carrying out the objects of the invention.

Stated in general terms, the invention relates to an ironing machine havinga padded roll and a heated shoe and power means for effecting both the rotation of the roll and theshifting of one or the other of such members into and out of pressing contact with the other. The machine also includes a suitable gear case which serves as a pedestal for supporting the roll solely at one end. The power means includes suitablejgearing inside the gear case and associated gearing inside the roll. Manually operable control members are conveniently located on the exterior of the gear case and suitable control mechanism inside the gear case is operatively associated with such control members. includes a disconnectible driving connection for efiecting the rotation of the roll in a controllable manner in accordance with the operation of the mechanism in the gear case and the manually operable control members located exteriorly thereof.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevational view of an ironing machine, illustratingone form of the invention; Figure 2 is an'enlarged end The mechanism inside the roll elevational view of the machine shown in Figure 1, with portions of the machine broken away and shown in section; Figure 3 is a sectional View taken on line 3-3, Figure 2; Figure 4 is a detail View of'the roll driving gears shown in Figure 2- to illustrate the disengaged position of the driving gears when the roll is not being driven; Figure 5 is an enlarged detail central sectional view of some of the structure by means of which the rotation of the roll may be prevented during the operation of the machine so that it may beused as a presser; Figure 6 is a side elevational view, partly in section, of an ironing machine, illustrating a modification of the invention; Figure '7 is an enlarged plan View, partly in section, showing the mechanism inside the roll for eiiecting the rotation and the shifting of the roll; Figure 8 is a sectional view taken on line 8-8, Figure 7; Figure 9 is a perspective view of an ironing machine, illustrating yet another modification of inside the roll; Figure 13 is a central detail sectional view of the roll carrier and its drive shaft; Figure 14 is a detail perspective view of the controller for the roll driving clutch; Figure 15 is an enlarged detail view of the cam and clutch which effect the shifting movements of the roll; Figures 16 and 17 are detail sectional views taken on line Iii-I6, Figure 15, illustrating the cooperating elements of the clutch when in their engaged and disengaged positions respectively; Figure 18 is a central sectional view of the clutch; and Figure 19 is an end elevational view of the clutch, illustrating in full and dotted lines the inoperative and clutch-operating positions respectively of the clutch controller.

The form of the invention illustrated in Figures 1 to 5, comprises the base or table top I mounted upon supporting legs 2 and carrying a gear case -3 from'which an ironer roll 4 projects. On the top of the base I, there is located a bracket 5 for the supporting arm 60f an ironer is adapted to be moved into and out of pressing contact with the roll. Suitable power-operated mechanism, as will be described in detail presently, is housed Within the gear case 3 for effecting in a controllable manner the shifting of the shoe and the rotation of the roll.

The gear case 3 is provided at one side with a hollow boss H] for receiving one end of the tube 8. The operating mechanism of the machine is driven by a motor having a pulley |2 for a driving belt l3 which connects the motor to a pulley l4 of the ironer mechanism The pulley I4 is fixedly connected to a shaft l5 having a worm lid in mesh at all times with a worm gear IS.

The worm gear I6 is provided with axially extending hub or sleeve portions lea, which cooperate with coiled clutch springs l1 and H3. The clutch spring IT is fixed at one end to a shaft 23 which is journaled in the bearing sleeve 24a carried by the gear case boss 2%. The clutch spring I1 is provided with a free end which is adapted to be engaged by a stop which is operatively connected to the manual control member Ila so that when the stop is in contact with the end of the spring, the clutch is prevented from wrapping around the sleeve |6a to the right of the gear I6. Upon release of the free end of the clutch spring l1, it will wrap around such sleeve part and connect the worm IS in driving. relation with respect to the shaft 20.

One end of the clutch spring I8, which is located to the left of the worm. gear I5, is fixed with respect to an eccentric 2| which is also journaled on the sleeve 25a. The eccentric 2| is received in one end of a connecting rod 22 and at its other end the rod 22 is connected by means of a pin 23 to a crank arm 24. The other end of this crank arm is fixedly attached to one end of a torsion rod 25 and the opposite end of the torsion rod is fixedly connected to the shoesupporting arm 6 which is pivotally connected at 26 to the rear part of the shoe 7.

The clutch spring I 8 is provided with a free end adjacent to the worm gear I6. Amanually operable controlmember |8a is provided for the purpose of moving a pair of associated stops positioned 180 degrees from each other, into and out of the path of the free end of the clutch spring l8, so that when the control member |8a is momentarily depressed, the clutch spring |8 will Wrap around the sleeve part Ifia and rotate the eccentric 2| through substantially 180 degrees, where the clutch spring is engaged by the stop opposite to the one which Was just moved out of engagement with the free end of the clutch spring. The next time the control member I8 is depressed, the eccentric 2| will be moved another half turn and in this manner the eccentric may be operated in steps of 180 degrees. The stops which are associated with the controls Ila and Isa correspond substantially to the stops I and H30 which are shown in Figure '7.

In view of the foregoing, it is apparent that when the eccentric 2| is rotated, it will serve to shift the shoe into and out of pressing contact with the roll. The roll is carried by a pair of bearing members 21 and 28, journaled for movement on a roll supporting tube 30 which is rigid with the gear case 3. An internal gear 3| is secured to the roll internally thereof alongside of the bearing member 28. The shaft projects outwardly from the gear case 3 and into the roll Where it is fitted with a pinion 32.

The shaft 20 provides a mounting for a bracket 33 which is rotatably journaled on this shaft. The bracket is provided with a bearing pin 34 which forms a bearing for a second pinion 35 which meshes at all times with the pinion 32. The pinion 35 is adapted for meshing engagement with the internal gear 3| secured to the roll internally thereof. A spring 3'! is provided to urge the bracket 33 and the pinion 35 in a direction toward the adjacent portion of the in ternal gear 3|. Beneath the shaft 20, the bracket 33 is provided with an angular extension 38 by means of which the pinion 35 is mechanically shifted into and out of meshing engagement with the internal gear 3|.

The mechanism for accomplishing the shifting of the pinion 35 comprises a connecting link 4|] which is pivotally connected at one end to the pin 23 and at its other end it is pivotally connected at 4| to a crank member 42 which is fixed to one end of a tubular shaft 43. The other end of the tubular shaft 43 is provided With a cam 44 which is adapted to be moved into and out of meshing engagement with the extension 38 of the pinion bracket. The tubular shaft 43 is journaled in a suitable bearing member 45 which may be formed integrally with the gear case 3.

In view of the foregoing, it is apparent that when the roll-shifting mechanism is operated to move the shoe into contact with the roll, the connecting rod 40 Will be moved downwardly to the position shown in Figure 2, lifting the cam 44 out of contact with the extension 38 of the pinion bracket, thus permitting the pinion 35 to move under influence of the spring 31 into mesh with the internal roll gear 3 The reaction between the pinion 35 and the roll gear 3| tends to maintain these gears in meshing engagement with each other. When the shoe is shifted away from the roll, the lever 40 moves upwardly and rotates the cam 44 into engagement with the bracket extension 38, and in this manner, the pinion 35 is shifted out of meshing engagement with the internal gear 3| of the roll. Additional mechanism to permit the machine to be used for pressing operations is provided for preventing at times the rotation of the roll when the shoe is moved into pressing contact therewith.

This mechanism comprises a manually operable control 46 located outside the gear case 3 and fixed to a shaft 41 which is pivotally mounted inside the gear case. The shaft 41 is provided with a bracket 48 which is pivotally connected at 50 to a link 5| which in turn is pivotally connected at 52 to a crank 53 which is fixed with respect to one end of a shaft 54. The shaft 54 is journaled inside the tubular shaft 43 and at its opposite end it is provided with a cam 55 located alongside the cam 44.

The cam 55 is pinned at 56 to the shaft 54 and when the manual control 46 is moved downwardly, a corresponding movement of the cam 55 takes place and the cam is thus shifted into engagement with the extension 38 of the pinion supporting bracket, and in this manner, the pinion 35 may be prevented from meshing with the internal gear 3| under influence of the spring 31. When the manual control member 46 is moved to the position shown in Figure 2, the cam 55 is moved away from the extension 48 of the pinion bracket and the shifting of the pinion is controlled entirely by the cam 44 and the elements which are associated with this cam and with the shoe-shifting mechanism. The

control 46 and the parts associated with item fitted so that there is sufficient friction to main tain thecontrol 46 in its adjusted positions.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figures 1 to 5, the worm gear I6 is driven in a counter-clockwise direction, as viewed from the right hand end of the machine, so as to rotate the roll 4 in an opposite or clockwise direction. The clutch springs I1 and I8 are wound in opposite directions, as is shown in Figure 3, so that when the free end of each of these springs is released, their inherent tension will cause them to engageand wrap around the sleeve parts I6a.

During the operation of the machine, the manually operable control member 46 is ordinarily used to prevent rotation of the roll when the machine is used for pressing operations. The control [1a and the clutch formed in part by the clutch spring II which is associated with this control, provide a convenient and easily operable auxiliary means for temporarily stopping the rotation of the roll when it is used as an ironer or a mangle, as may be desirable at times when heavy or very wet articles are being ironed.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figures 6 to 8, there is provided a base I having legs 2, a gear case 3a, a r0114, a bracket 5, a shoesupporting arm 6, a shoe I and a tube 8, similar to the corresponding elements first described, and

somewhat similar operating mechanism under control of the manually operated members Na and led is located within the gear case 3a.

The present construction differs from the construction earlier described in that the roll 4 is the shiftable member and in that the roll is supported from a point intermediate its ends by means of apair of bearing members 51 and 58 which are rotatably carried on a shaft 66. The shaft 66 is fixed to the upper end of a crank arm 6| which is in turn fixed to an oscillatable shaft 62. This shaft corresponds to the shaft 25 and itserves to shift theroll 4 into and out of pressing contact with the shoe I. The roll-supporting tube 63 is also somewhat shorter in length than the tubes 36 previously described and it is carried from a boss 64 which is located below the axis of the roll when the roll and shoe are in pressing contact. i k

The oscillatable shaft 62' is located inside the tube 63 and the outer end of this tube provides a bearing for supporting the outer end of the shaft 62. In this form of construction, the roll driving pinion 65 is carried by a U-shaped bracket 66 which is rotatably journaled upon the tube. 63. The bracket 66 isslotted at 61 for receiving a pin 66 which is fixed to the tube 63. The slot and. the pin are provided for the purpose of limiting the movement of the U-shaped bracket 66. e V

In view of the foregoing, it is apparent that serves to hold the pinion 65 out of meshing engagement with the internal gear I6. I

The gearing for controlling the shifting and rotational movements of the roll, as is'best shown in Figures 6 and '7, comprises a motor I I, an associated pulley I2 and a belt I3 to connect the same to a pulley I4. The pulley I4 is fixed to rotate with a shaft I5 carrying a worm I5a which is whenthe roll 4 is moved into contact with the whereupon the force of reaction between the gears insures the'maintaini'ng of proper meshing engagement between the pinion and the internal gear 70. When the roll is shifted away from the shoe, the stop which is provided by the pin 68 and the slot 61 of the U-shaped bracket 66 adapted to mesh with'a worm gear I6. The wormgear I6 is provided with axially extending hub or sleeve parts I61: and it is adaptedto freely rotate upon a bearing sleeve similar to the sleeve previously described, in connection'with the form of the invention illustrated in Figures Several turns at the free end of each of the clutch springs Ill) and I8b each overlie one of the sleeve'parts I6a. A stop member No for the free end of the clutch spring I'Ib is operatively associated with the control member I'Ia and a pair of stops I located substantially degrees from each other, are associated with the manually operable control member I8a for controlling the clutch which is formed by the spring I81), so that such clutch may be operated to rotate an eccentric member I6 in steps of 180 degrees. The eccentric I6 is operably connected by means of the link 'I! to a crank I8 fixed to the rocker shaft or oscillatable shaft 62. r

The manually operable control I'Ia is used to prevent rotation of the roll when the machine is used for pressing operations and it may also be used for momentarily stopping rotation of the roll during ironing operations. Normally, however, the clutch spring III) is in operative engagement with the sleeve part I611 so as to drive the shaft I2 ordinarily at all times while the machine is being used. V

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figures 6 to 8,'the worm gear I6 rotates in a clockwise direction, as viewed from the right hand end of the machine, so as to rotate the roll in the .same direction. The clutch springs IIb and I6b of the clutch spring III) and to rotate the eccentric I6 in the case of the clutch spring I8b,

In the two difierent forms of ironing machine mechanisms which have been described herein, it is intended that the internal gear in the roll and its driving pinion mesh with each other at least partially, before the roll and shoe contact each other so that no substantial load is imposed on the gears at the instant of their engagement or disengagement. Because of this, the roll driving connection is effected in a quiet manner and the specified arrangement has the further advantage of reducing wear on the ends of the gear teeth and thus preventing such portions of the gear teeth from quickly becoming worn or broken.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figa the said housing in a convenient manner as by means of screws 64, received in suitably threaded holes formed in the outer wall 3 of the casing 86.

' Mounted on the shaftj86 of the motor 83 is a pulley 81.

A shaft 88 is positioned in the upper compartment 8| and carries a pulley 99 on one end. The shaft 89 extends through the front wall 9| of the hOuSing 89 and leads into another compartment 92 in front of the housing 89. Said compartment 92 is formed in part by a cover plate 99 which is hinged to the housing BI as shown at 93, and is firmly held in closed position by means of a screw 94 fastening the same to the housing 89. Removal of the screw 94 will allow opening of the compartment 92 to give easy access to the instrumentalities mounted therein. A belt 95 connects pulley 81 and pulley 90 for power transmission.

As stated before, the shaft 88 is mounted within the upper compartment 8|. This is clearly illustrated in Figures 10 and 11. The outer wall SI of the casing 89 comprises a reinforced portion 95 having a flanged bore 91. An upwardly extending portion 98 is carried by the wall portion I99, which separates compartments BI and 92 and it has a bore I9I for the reception of a ball bearing mounted on one end of the shaft 89. A ball bearing is mounted on the other end of the shaft 89 and is arranged to fit properly in the bore 91. A retaining member I92 is employed to hold the bearing members properly in place and to prevent motion of the shaft 88 in a longitudinal direction. Said retaining member I92 is secured to the reinforced portion 96 of the wall 9I by means of screws I93. Intermediate the bearings of the shaft 88 is a worm I94 mounted on the shaft 88 in any suitable manner.

The reinforced portion 96 of the casing 89 is connected with the upwardly extending portion 99 by means of a bridge I95 having a bearing portion as shown at I96 in Figure 11. A shaft E91 is mounted within said bearing I96 and extends into a bearing mounted in a centrally bored boss I99 of the housing 89.

The free end of the shaft I91 extends outwardly from the bearing I96 and carries a worm gear I l I keyed thereto and held properly in place by means of a locking member II2. Said worm gear I I I is in suitable engagement with the worm I96 to transmit rotation from, the worm to the shaft I91. Agear II3'and a ball clutch IM are mounted between the bearing I95 and the boss m8 and a coil spring H5 is placed therebetween for purposes to be hereinafter set forth.

The ball clutch I I4, details of which are shown in Figures 15, 16, 1'7, 18 and 19, comprises an eccentric cam I I9 having rigidly connected therewith a ring like intermediate clutch portion II1 provided with a bore IIB for the reception of a clutch ball I29. An'inner clutch member I2I of sleeve-like formation, having cavities I22 for the reception of the clutch ball I29, is mounted within'the member H1 and is secured to the square portion I24 of the shaft I91, as clearly shown in Figure 16. An outer clutch member I25 of ringlike configuration, having a longitudinal groove I26; is adapted to cause in different positions of the ring I25 with respect to the member I I1, engag'ement or disengagement of the clutch.

An annular shoulder I21 is provided on the member I25 for the reception of a circular plate 138 having arms I39 and I3I extending through slots I 32 and I33 formed in the shouldered end of the outer clutch member I25. The helical spring H5 is mounted on the shaft I91 between the spur gear H3 and clutch II I. Said spring grips the shaft under slight tension so that rotation of the shaft will tend to cause a corresponding rotation of the spring. One end of the spring is free and its other end secured to the plate I28 by insertion of the same into a hole II5a in said plate I28. The spring II5 will tend to urge the plate I28 and outer clutch member I25 to the dotted line position of Figure 19 and the position shown in Figure 16, thus causing the engagement of the clutch members for transmission of rotation from the shafts 88 and I91 to the intermediate clutch member I I1 and cam I I6.

If the ball clutch H4 is in the disengaged position shown in Figure 17 and the full line position of Figure 19, the clutch ball will oscillate in a radical direction as there is nothing to restrain its motion, but if the clutch is engaged, as shown in Figure 16, the ball will not be permitted to move out of its respective cavity I22 as the surface of the ring I25 bearing against said ball will not permit such oscillatory movement of the same. The clutch actuating arms I39 and I3I and 4 the spring II5 are for the purpose of controlling within the sockets I36 and I31 and are secured therein against rotation by means of pins I 44 and I43a. The free ends of the standards I43 and I42 opposite their sockets I36 and I31 carry a supporting member I45 and are secured thereto by means of pins I45 and I45a. A tubular shaft I41 is journaled within the socket I38 and extends through the lower portion I48 of the supporting member I 45. The free end of said shaft, designated at I59, carries a supporting member or crank arm I5I.

A roll supporting cage I52 is secured to a shaft I59 by means of a threaded portion I54 screwed on the threaded end I55 of the shaft I58. The shaft I59 and a shaft I53 rotate in a bushing I51 received within the upper portion of the supporting member or crank arm I 5I. At the point where the shaft I53 enters the bushing I51, there is'a flexible joint connection between the shafts I53 and I58. This flexible joint connection is illustrated in Figure 13 and consists of a pin I69 mounted on the end of the shaft I53 and a sleeve I6I secured by means of a pin I62 to the shaft portion I58. Said sleeve has a slot I63 for the reception of the pin I69 so that when said pin is inserted in the slot of the sleeve member, a flexible driving connection will be obtained.

The other end of the shaft portion I53 is connected in a similar manner to a jaw clutch member I 64 by a pin which is rather loosely received in the slot I66 in said clutch member I64.

A compression coil spring I91 of substantially the same diameter of shaft I53 is slid upon this end of said shaft with the end of the spring remote from the clutch in tight engagement with the shaft. A cotter pin I58 is inserted through a hole in shaft I53 to hold said spring in the desired engagement with the clutch member I64. One end of said spring is mounted within a hole I1I in said jaw member I64.

The result accomplished by this peculiar connection may be briefly described as follows:

If the jaw clutch formed by the clutch members I54 and I12 is disengaged and the yoke I13 is released so as to permit engagement of the clutch members it will be obvious that at the same time if the jaw teeth I14 and I15 engage, there will be a large amount of friction between them at the surfaces of their teeth, thus preventing proper engagement of the same and causing unnecessary wear on such surfaces. Therefore, this novel construction permits the clutch member I64 to be rotated against the slight tension of the spring I61 until the pin I65 engages the side surface of the slot I66. The small amount of play provided by the slot I66 and controlled by the slight tension of the said spring will give both the. jaw clutch members I64 and I12 sufiicient time to engage properly before application of the load and any destructive friction on the driving surfaces of the teeth of said jaw clutch members will be substantially eliminated.

As previously described, the tubular member I41 is mounted for rotation in the socket I38 and extends through the same into the compartment 8| and carries a yoke I18. The other end of said tube I41 is guided through the bearing portion I48 and rigidly carries on its free end as previously described, the crank member I5I. A pin I80 is mounted on said tube to contact with a cam shaped lip IBI formed on the yoke member I13 and it is adapted to control engagement and disengagement of the jaw clutch member I64. A detail of this yoke is shown in Figure 14. Said yoke is mounted by means of a bracket I82 to the housing 80, as shown at I83 in Figure 10. Said bracket I82 carries the yoke I13 to which are secured two pins I84 adapted for the purpose of engaging with an annular slot I65 in the jaw clutch member I64.

The downwardly extending cam portion I8I of the yoke I13 which contacts with the tube I41 and pin I80 of said tube is for the purpose of engaging member I8l to shift the yoke and the member I64 in one direction, causing disengagement of the clutch. Coil spring I61, which was mentioned before in connection with the mountingof the shaft I53, serves also for the purpose of shifting the clutch member I64 to effect the engagement of the clutch when the pin I80 is not in contact with the yoke cam portion I8I. The effect of this operation will be later set forth.

A cam I81 is mounted in close proximity to yoke member I13, as shown in Figure 14, and said cam may be operated by a lever I88 to hold the yoke I13 in such a position as to perform a disengagement of the jaw clutch. This manual control for said clutch is desirable when the operator wants to stop the motion of the ironing roller while the same is pressed against the shoe for pressing operations, and the very de-V sirable feature of this arrangement will be brought out later in this description.

The tubular standard I40 is mounted, as previously mentioned, within the sockets I34 and I35 and a pin I90 passing through the socket I34 and tube I40 holds the tube stationary against rotation. Another tube MI is rotatably mounted within said tube I40 and two slots in the tube I4I, which are indicated at I92, allow a certain motion of said inner tube without interference by the pin I90. A pin I93 is secured to the inner tube I9I, holding a sleeve I94 in proper fixed relation with said inner tube.

A slot I95 is provided in the outer tube member I40 to allow a certain amount of angular motion of pin I93 and sleeve I94. Said sleeve member I94 carries a cantilever tension spring I96 secured thereto Icy-means of screws I91 and I98. The other end'of said tension spring bears against the upper portion of the shoe arm 206. Said shoe arm 200 comprises two bearing members 20I and 202 surrounding tube I40 and being rotatable thereon. A spider 203 carrying the shoe 204 and secured thereto by means of screws 205, is hinged to said arm by a pin 206.

It will be obvious that if the inner tube MI is locked in a certain position, a pressure will be created in the spring I96, tending to force the arm 200 and shoe 264 against the padded ironing roll 261, said ironing roll 291 being carried by the supporting member I52, as previously mentioned therein. The member I5I and the roll 281 may be swung toward or away from the shoe, as illustrated in full and dotted lines in Figure 11, and such motion is caused by the movement of the shaft I41 and its associated yoke I18.

The shoe 264 may be easily detached from its supporting arm by removing bolt 206 and itcan be very easily cleaned by releasing the lever 208 whereupon the shoe can be moved away from the roll to permitit to be swung about thebolt 206 to present its ironing surface in accessible position.

The sleeve I94 has an extension 2II adapted to move within a slot 2I2 on the bearing member 262 of the shoe supporting arm. This will limit the motion of the arm 206 so that when the roll is moved away from the shoe, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 11, the spring I96 does not cause the shoe to follow the roll as would occur if such means were not provided and when the lever 208 is released, the shoe can be tilted back only a limited distance.

The jaw clutch member I12 is mounted on a shaft 2 I3, journaled in a boss 2I4, which extends into the compartment 8| of the housing 89. A

spur gear 2I5, in mesh with a spur gear II3 on the shaft I01 is secured to the free end of shaft 2I3 within the compartment 8| and serves for the purpose of transmitting power from the gear I I3 to the clutch members I12 and I64 and thence to the shaft I53.

The ironing roll 201 is held in such a position with respect to the housing that the end of the ironing roll toward said housing may be used for ironing-purposes in the same manner as the opposite open or free end of said ironing roll. Sharp edges on said housing are eliminated. The

outer configuration of the same is such as not to V interfere with the ironing operation of the machine and the portion of the housing below the roll has its rearmost wall located forwardly of a vertical plane through the lowermost line of contact between the ironer roll and shoe whereby ample space is provided for the passage of goods being ironed at the end of the roll adjacent to such housing.

It should be noted that the tensioning means for regulating the pressure between the shoe and the ironing roll is mounted on the supporting arm of said shoe and no tensioning means within the roller is necessary, thus simplifying very much the construction of the supporting means for the roll.

As previously stated, the tubular member I41 carries a yoke I18; the said yoke I18 contacts with the outer circumference of cam member I I6 on the clutch I I4 so that if the clutch is engaged, the cam member II6 normally will rotate one hundred and eighty degrees, causing a certain motion of the yoke I18 which is transferred to the tubular member I41 and pin I80 actuating the jaw clutch and rotating member I51 as previously mentioned.

An emergency shoe release lever 208 is secured to the inner tube MI and held by a locking means 2I6 in position so as to allow the contacting of the shoe with the ironing roll. The lock'member 2I6 is provided with a trip lever 2I'I so that the locking means 2I6 may be swung out of the way of the free end of arm 208. This releases the shoe 204 from the roll for cleaning and safety purposes. To look the shoe 204 again in its original position, it is only necessary to press the free end 2! of arm 208 downwardly until the locking member 2I5 which may be under the infiuence of a suitable spring, engages'said portion 2I8. The ironing roll 201 is formed with an inwardly projecting longitudinal rib 220 adapted to engage with the slots 22I of the cage I52 to hold said roll against rotation on this supporting member and to allow transmission of power from the same to the roll.

The ball clutch actuating arms I30 and I3I which control the engagement of the ball clutch, abut against the extension 222 of an arm 223 mounted upon a shaft 224 having a trip lever 225 to cause disengegament of the clutch II4. Actuation of the trip lever 225 will swing the extension 222 on the arm 223 out of the path of the clutch actuating arms I30 and I3I and spring II 5 will cause engagement of the said clutch. The arm 223 upon release of the lever 225 will then be returned to its normal position by the power of a coil spring 225 mounted with one end secured to the housing 80 while the other end is secured to the arm 223 as at 221. cover 228 is provided permitting easy access to the compartment BI and is secured thereto by means of screws 235.

It has to be noted that the shoe and roll are supported at their respective centers by means ironed. The centrally located roll bearing also prevents binding of the roll bearings due to bending of roll supports, as would occur if the roll bearings were in the ends of the roll and carried on a tube supported at one end only by the housing 80.

The operation of the machine shown in Figures 9 to 19 is as follows:

The cabinet is opened, electric current is sup.- plied to the motor 33, and the same is started. Rotation of said motor is transmitted from pulley 81 to pulley 90 by means of the belt 95, causing rotation of shaft 88, worm I04, worm gear III, spur gears I I3 and 2I5, and clutch member H2. The clutch actuating arm I3I is in the position shown in Figure 11, abutting against the extension 222 of the arm 223, and the clutch I I4 is now in a disengaged position, so that the shaft I01 will be permitted to freely rotate.

The yoke I78 contacting with the cam II6 of the ball clutch is in such a-position as to cause disengagement of the jaw clutch I 64 by means of pin I80 and yoke I73. The shoe 204 is provided with an electric heater 232 and this heater is connected by any suitable means with a source of electric current and has to become sufiiciently hot before ironing operations can be started. The emergency shoe release lever 208 is in a position as shown in Figure 9, holding the shoe in proper relation to'the ironing roll.

The material to be ironed is now placed upon A removable transmitted from the clutch shaft I0! to the cam H5, shifting the yoke I78 which will cause such rotation of the tube I4? as will disengage pin I 00 from the cam portion I8I of the yoke I73. The coil spring I61 will now force the clutch member I 64 to the right to engage with the other clutch member I12, and the shafts I53 and I58 start to rotate, turning with them the roll supporting member I52 and the ironing roll I20.

At the same time, the rotation of the tubular member I41 will also cause a motion of the roll from the dotted line to the full line position of Figure 11, moving the roll 201 toward the ironing shoe 204 so that the material which has been placed upon said roll will be forced between the roll and the shoe, the latter pressing against the roll under a certain tension created by the spring I96 and the ironing operation may then be performed, as the material is fed through the machine. If the operator should, by accident, place his hand between the shoe and roller, the shoe may be immediately released by tripping the lever 2I'I.

As previously mentioned, the clutch actuating arm I3I has been released and the clutch engaged by means of the spring I I5. The releasing arm 223 moves back to its original position by means of the coil spring 226 and thereafter the clutch actuating arm I30 moves into position where it will abut against the extension 222, and the ball clutch will disengage automatically after one half of a revolution. During this time of engagement and disengagement of the clutch, the yoke I18 has been shifted sufiiciently to cause the required rotation of member I5I, necessary for moving the roll against the shoe and upon disengagement of the clutch, the ironing roll will be held in this position until the trip lever 225 is actuated again, causing clutch actuating arm I30 to be free to cause engagement of the clutch and to return the ironing roll to its original position away from the shoe.

After this action takes place, the clutch is again disengaged by the arm I3I engaging the lever 225. At the same time the pin I80 on the tube I47 will engage the portion IBI of the jaw clutch yoke I73 moving said yoke to the left, causing engagement between the clutch members I'I'Z andl64. This will stop the rotation of the roll 201 and another piece of material to be ironed may be now placed upon said roll, or the operation of such ironing machine may be continued without releasing the roll from the shoe.

If it is desired to stop the rotation of the ironing roll while the same is in engagement with the shoe 204, it is only necessary to trip the lever I88. This will cause immediate disengagement of the jaw clutch member I64 so that the operator isin a position to apply more heat to a certain portion of the material to be ironed than the regular operation of the machine will allow, and the now non-rotatable roll can be shifted toward and from the shoe for pressing operation. It is, of course, understood that the roll is free to be turned by hand during the pressing operations 'at such times as when it is not in engagement with the shoe.

If the tension between the shoe and the ironing aasmov '7 roll needs readjustment, this can be accomplished by turning the screws I91 and I98. When the machine is out of operation, the electric current to the motor 83 and the current supply of the shoe 204 should be turned off and the cabinet may be closed. f

The foregoing description and the accompanying drawings to which it relates, describes what might be termed the preferred modes of practicing the invention. It is to be clearly understood, however, that the invention includes each and every novelfeature or combination of novel features herein disclosed, subject only to the restrictions of the prior art, and that the invention may assume other forms and it is to be limited to the particular and specific structure shown and described herein.

Having thus described my invention what claim is:

1. A power driven ironing machine comprising the combination with a. supporting structure, of an ironing roll mounted uponsaid structure for rotatable and lateral movements, means for effecting the lateral movement thereof and driving instrumentalities for the roll including a clutch device for controlling the lateral movement of the roll and for also controlling rotation of the roll, a second clutch for producing rotation of the roll, and mechanism inter-connecting the two clutches, whereby actuation of the first clutch actuates the second clutch, the said mechanism comprising a cam located on said first clutch, a yoke operated by the same cam, a shaft operated by the yoke, a' pin mounted on the shaft, a second shaft for rotating the roll, one element of said second clutch being mounted upon the second shaft for producing actuation thereof, and a second yoke in engagement with the pin for actuating the second clutch to con-- trol rotation of said second shaft.

2. An ironing machine comprising in combination, an ironing roll, a gear case, a supporting member extending therefrom into the interior of the roll for carrying the roll, driving mechanism for the roll including a driving shaft, a driven shaft inside the roll, cooperating clutch members on the respective shafts for transmitting power from the driving shaft to the driven shaft, and actuating means insidev said roll and exterior of the gearcase for one of the clutch members for forcing said member intoproper actuating engagement with the other clutch member.

3. In an ironing machine, the combination of an ironing roll mounted for rotation and also for lateral movement, an oscillatably mounted supporting member disposed interiorly of the roll at a point intermediate its length for carrying the. roll, driving mechanism for the roll comprising.

a drivingshaft and a driven shaft arranged inside the roll, said driven shaft being connected with said driving shaft for universal'movement relatively thereto and having a universal connection with respect to the roll, whereby lateral movement of the roll is permitted without interrupting the driving connection between said driven shaft and said roll, and means for laterally shifting said roll supporting member.

4. A power driven ironing machine comprising the combination with a supporting structure, of an ironing roll mounted upon said structure and means adapting the roll for lateral movement thereof, driving instrumentalities for the roll including clutch devices one inside and the other outside said roll, the latter operating to control engagement and disengagement of the clutch device inside the roll which controls the rotation thereof, and manually operable means to prevent the engagement of said first named clutch device and to control the operation of the latter clutch device.

5. A power driven ironing machine comprising the combination with a supporting structure, of an ironing roll mounted upon said structure and means for supporting the roll for rotational and lateral movement, and driving instrumentalities for the roll including clutch devices one inside and the other outside said roll, the former operating to control the rotation of the roll and the latter operating to control the lateral movement of said roll, and an operating member for said last-named clutch device adapted to be actuated by said means for supporting the roll upon the lateral movement thereof whereby said 29 clutch device outside the roll controls the enthe combination with a supporting structure, of

an ironing roll mounted upon the said structure, and means adapting the roll for lateral movement thereof, driving instrumentalities for the roll including interacting clutch devices which 30 control the lateral movement of the roll and at the same time control the starting and the stopping of the rotation of the roll, a cam inside said roll and a manually operable actuating means therefor, and a yoke inside said roll on one of the clutch devices, said cam being adapted to engage said yoke to disable the interaction between said clutch devices whereby the roll may be laterally moved without being rotated.

7. A power driven ironing machine comprising the combination with a supporting structure, of

a pair of cooperating ironing elements comprising a rotatable roll and a heated shoe, power means for rotating said r-oll, clutch means between said power means and said roll for controlling the rotation of the roll, means for supporting one of said ironing elements for bodily movement about an axis below the roll axis for shifting such element into and out of pressing engagement with the other ironing element, a

rockable member operatively connected to said bodily movable ironing element, and a clutch control member inside said roll actuated by said rockable member whereby the clutch means are moved into and out of their engaged position when the ironing elements are moved into and out of pressing engagement with eachother.

8. In an ironing machine the combination of an ironing roll, a shoe, a supporting member within the roll for carrying the roll, driving mechanism inside the roll for effecting its rotation including a driving member and a shiftable driving connection between said member and the roll for controlling rotation of the same, a gear case arranged at. one end of said roll, power driven mechanism inside said gear case to effect relative movement between the shoe and roll, manual control means for said power driven mechanism and operative connections between the mechanism in said gear case and the driv- 7 ing mechanism in said roll, to effect a shifting of said driving connection coincident with the relative movement between the shoe and roll.

9. In a power driven ironing machine the combination with a supporting structure, of an ironthe lateral movement of said roll and also the ing roll mounted upon said structure, a cooperating ironing element, means enabling the roll to move laterally parallel to its axis toward and from the cooperating ironing element, and mechanism for rotating the'roll and moving the same laterally parallel to its axis including disconnectible driving connections, one inside and the other outside said roll, the latter operating to control the lateral movement of the roll and also the engagement and disengagement of the other driving connection.

10. A power driven ironing machine comprising the combination with a supporting structure, of pressing elements including an ironing roll and a shoe mounted upon such structure, means adapting one of said pressing elements for lateral movement with respect to the other of said pressing elements, and mechanism for effecting and controlling the rotation of the roll including disconnectible driving connections, one being inside the roll and controlling the rotation of the roll, and the other being outside the roll, the latter operating to control the engagement and disengagement of the driving connection inside the roll and also the lateral movement of said laterally movable ironing element.

'11. A power driven ironing machine comprising a supporting structure, cooperating pressing elements mounted thereon, including a roll and a shoe and power driven means for effecting rotation of the roll and for shifting one of said pressing elements into and out of contact with the other, said power driven means including disconnectible driving connections, one being inside the roll and controlling the rotation of the roll and the other being outside the roll, the latter operating to control the engagement and disengagement of the driving connection inside the roll and also the lateral movement of said laterally movable pressing element.

12. A power driven ironing machine comprising the combination with a supporting structure, of pressing elements including anironing roll and a shoe mounted upon said structure. one of said elements mounted to move laterally with respect to the other and mechanism for effecting and controlling rotation of the roll including disconnectible driving connections, one being inside the roll and controlling rotation of the roll, and the other being outside of the roll,

the latter operating to control the engagement of the driving connection inside the roll and also the lateral movement of said laterally movable pressing element.

13. In an ironing machine, a gear casing at one end thereof, a roll and a cooperating shoe, a shaft projecting from said gear casing into said roll, a power unit, eccentric means carried by said shaft within said roll and operatively connected thereto, a second shaft projecting from said casing, means including a ,flexible driving connection operatively arranged between said second shaft and said roll to rotate the roll, manually operable means to connect said first-named shaft and power unit to oscillate said eccentric means and move the roll against the shoe and normally establish a driving relation between said second shaft and said roll, and a second manually operable means extending within the roll to engage the means for rotating the roll to interrupt said normal driving relation and effect a pressing operation.

14. In an ironing machine, a gear casing at one end thereof, a roll and a cooperating shoe, a shaft projecting from said gear casing into said roll, a power unit, eccentric means carried by said shaft within said roll and operatively connected thereto, a second shaft projecting from said casing, means including a flexible driving connection operatively arranged between said second shaft and said roll to rotate the roll, manually operable means to connect said first-named shaft and power unit to oscillate said eccentric means and move the roll against the shoe and normally establish a driving relation between said second shaft and said roll, and a second manually operable means extending within the roll to engage the means for rotating the roll to interrupt said normal driving relation and effect a pressing operation, said last-named manually operable means including an oscillatable shaft having an arm arranged within the roll to engage the means to drive the roll and a handle portion outside of the roll conveniently accessible to the ironing machine operator.

15. In an ironing machine a stand, a gear casing at one end thereof, a roll and a cooperating shoe, a shaft projecting laterally from said gear casing into the interior of the roll, an eccentric carried by said shaft within the roll and ar ranged upon oscillaticnof said shaft to move the roll toward and away from said shoe, a second shaft projecting from said gear casing into said roll, a power unit operatively connected to both of said shafts and arranged to continuously rotate said second-named shaft irrespective of the movement of the roll with respect to said shoe, a driven member carried by the roll adapted to be brought into engagement with said second shaft as the roll is advanced toward said shoe and manually operative means extending into said roll to prevent the engagement between said driven member and said second shaft to eifect a pressing operation between the roll and shoe.

JOHN W. RACKLYEFI. 

